Transmission



June 14 1927' G. B. COLEMAN TRANSMISS ION 2 Smm-snee*b 1 Filed June 3. 1926 fyvuamfo@ George B. Coleman attoz m11 June 14 1927* G. B. .COLEMAN TRANSMISSIQN Filed June 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l George B.

Patented Jane 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.:

' GEORGE B. COLEMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOIt '10 `COLEMAN AiUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

, rnaNsMIssIoN.

.Applicationl led June 3,

The object of the invention is to provide a transmission in which the torque and vspeed of the driven member areaitomatically varied to suit the load conditions of the latter without affecting the speed and, there- With this, object in'view, the inventiony consists in a construction and combination. of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a central Vertical sectional view through one embodiment of the invention. f

' thel plane indicated b'y the linefl2-2of Figindicatedby the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is'atsectional view of still another embodiment of the invention.

Figure t3 is a 'sectional view on the plane kindicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 5. l

Figure 7 is an elevational view showing a mpdification of the form of weighted element employed in the construction shown in Figure. Q

'Figure 8 is .an elevational View illustra-ting a modified form of control for the rotation of the planetary gears. v l f The driving shaft 10 and driven shaft 11, in the form shown in Figure 1, are axially aligned, the latter having a bearing at its forward end in the -rear end of the formerlon which is mounted aplanet carrier 12 in the form of a cylindrical housing of which the end case 14 is detachably secured to it by means of cap screws 15. The driven shaft 11 extends axially through the housing 12, being journaled in. a bearing in the end case 14. l

At its forward extremity, the driven shaft 11 carries a gear 17, the latter meshing with the planetary gears 18 `disposed on diamet- 'ricallyl oppositey sides of the driven shaft 11, if therel b`e two of such gears (or unliformly spaced angularly in a -clrcle around v Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on.`

1926. serial no. 119,539.

Iextending diametiically through them and the slots are spanned'by diametrical stub shafts 23, these shafts supporting weights 24 of preferably triangular form, the weightsbeing formed with eyes adjacent one apex for loose engagement with the stub l shaft so that they may swing around` the latter as a center. By this construction, they axis of movement of the Weightsis at' right angles to the movement of the shafts 19 on their own' axes and, if the housing 12 be rotated, centrifugal Jforce tends to keep the weights 24 disposed outwardly, v,that is, adjacent the peripheral wall of the housing 12." With the load tending to resist rotati'onof the driven shaft 11 and the driving shaft 1g() rotating because of connection with a prime mover, such as an auto vehicle engine, the planet carrier or housing 12 is rotated and the shafts 19 and therefore the weights 24 are bodil rotated with. the result that the driven siaft moves in synchronisni Awith the driving shaft if the vcentrifugal force of the weights is sufficient to overcome the load. If not, the angular speed of the driven shaft falls below that of the drivin shaft and the shafts 19 are rotated on theirf own axes, the weights 24 being thus swung inwardly until they occupy positions between the driven shaft and the shafts 19. ln such positions, the weights may then swing instantly on the stub shafts 23 to their former outer positions, moving. through the clearance spaces provided by the slots 22 in the shafts 19.

In order that there may be no tendency of the Weights 24 to remain stationarywith respect to the shafts 19 when they occupy their inner positions, means are provided for mov- 1 ing them off center in 'their inner positions and when centrifugal force is the least and such means comprises springs 25 disposed on the shafts 19 and compressed between the planetary gears 18 and collars 26 loosely 105 jmounted on the shafts. In the inner positions of the weights, the pressure of the coldegree movement of the shafts 19. In the outward positions, the centrifugal force 1s sufficient to enable the weights to overcome the pressure of the springs and thus ma1n-' y tain their center lines on `radial lines.

The movement of the Weights 24: inwardly by the rotation of the shafts on'their own axes tends, because of the centrifugal force imparted to the weights by the rotation of the housing'12, to oppose rotation ofthe shafts 19 on their own axes and thus there is a tendency'to accelerate the driven member and the angular speed of the shafts 19 will, therefore, drop off as the driven member accelerates until finally. when 'the latter moves in synchronism withy the driving member and with the housingr 12, thel shafts 19 will cease to rotateon their own axes.

In 'the modification shown in 'Figure 3, the principle involved is. precisely the same as that of the structure shown in Figure 1. In this modification, however, the driver 1()a carries a spider 27 in the arms of which, adjacent the. outer ends, are mounted the short shafts 28,the latter having connected with them the planetary gears 18a meshing with the gears 17:L carried by the driven member 11. TheI movement of the driver is transmitted to the driven through the spider 27 and theplanetary gears 18 and gears 17a and whether vor not it moves synchronously with the driver depends upon whether the planetary gears 18a and the shafts 28 rotate on their own axes.

The means of interposing a resistance to such rotation in this form of the invention consists of closed tubular members 29 carried by the shafts 28 and disposed transversely of the latter, the extremities of the tubular members being deflected, as indicated at 30, 'the defiected portions beingdisposed in opposite directions at opposite ends ofsaid tubular members. Fluid elements 31 are carried in the tubular members, being volumetrically dimensioned according to the defiected portions of said members. In the rotation of the spider, 'the liuid elements (which may be oil, mercury or any acceptable material) are carried to the outer ends of said tubular members by centrifugal force and thus tend to resist any rotation of the shafts 28 on their own axes. When the load on the driven. member l1a is sufficient, however, to cause such rotation of the shafts 28, the fiuid elements are moved inwardl v just as the weights` 24 in the embodiment s own in Figure 1, and when they reached positions adjacent the shafts, they flow quickly through the tubular members to the opposite extrem-y ity which at that time is disposed outwardly, where they again begin their inward movement through the succeeding one hundred and eighty degree movement of the shafts 28. Thus, the outward movement of the fluid ele- 4speed of the driven member until it attains a speed in synchronism with the driving member.

In the modification shown in Figure 5, the structure shownin Figure 3 is adhered to with the exception that the shaft 28HL with which the planetary gears 18b are connected are extended axially, as indicated at 32, and provided with coarse threads 33. On these threaded extension 32 are mounted weights 34 and the latter are brought into abutting engagement with shoulders 35 on the shafts 28a upon the rotation vof said shafts 28 in one direction-'that is, in the direction in which these shafts rotate in their operation in the organization of which they are a part. The engagement of the weights 34 with the shoulders 35 precludes relative movement of the weights and shafts as the weights are moved inwardly by the rotation of the shafts but when the weights shall have completed the one hundred and eighty degree movement inward and again begin the movement outward, they may swing outward instantaneously independent of the shafts, since they are then subject to action of centrifugal force and the coarse threads 33 free them from engagement with the shoulders 35, since they impart movement tothe weights axially of the shafts. Having reached the outward positions, centrifugal force maintains the weights in such positions and the rotation of the shafts 28a on their axes then, by virtue of the threads 33, move the weights axially of the shafts until theyagain abut the shoulders 35 and begin another inward movement. In this form, the inward movement of the Weights tends to resist axial rotation of the shafts 28a and, therefore, to accelerate the driven member up to a speed in synchronism with the driving member.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, each planetary gear shaft 28b at one extremity is bored diametrically, as indicated at 36, and the weighted element consists of a rod 37 enlarged at its extremities, as indicated at 38. In the bodily rotation of the shaft 28h, centrifugal force tends to keep the welghted element disposed radially and therefore one of the weighted extremities 38 abuts the shaft 28b and the other weighted `extremity 38 is disposed outwardly or away from the shaft l28". Upon axial rotation of said shaft 28", however, the outer wei hted portion 38 is moved inwardly towar the axis of rotation of the driving and driven shafts and therefore opposes axial rotation ofthe shaft28b. `When the latter shall have completed one hundred and eighty degree ,inent changes every one hundred and eighty degree ot axial rotation of the shaft 28", and the weightis therefore always moved against centrifugal `force -with the ever present tendency to resist axial rotation ofthe' shaft 28h In Athe modicartion shown in Figure 8', resistance is interposed to the rotation of the planetary gear 18"y and to its shaft 28 by means of an oscillatory weight 39 pivotally mounted, as at 40, on the carrier 12, the weight 39 being carried by an angular arm of which the free eatremity 41 engagls the periphery of an eccentric 4:2A carried y the shaft 28. f

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and .useful is:

1. A transmission vcomprising driving and driven members and` operative connections between the two comprising epicyclic gears, said gears havin weights movable synchronously with t em through substantially halfan axial revolution and then movable independently 'ofthe gears and instantaneously to thediametrically opposite. sides of the latter.

2. Al transmission comprisingv drivingk and driven members and operative connections between the two comprising epicyclic gears,

said .gears 'having centrifugal elements movablesynchronously with the ears' when' the.

elements are moving inwar ly and independently of the lgears when the elementsy are moving outwardly.

'3. A transmission comprising driving and driven members and operatlve connections lbetween the two comprising epicyclic gears,

said gears having centrifugal elements instantaneously transferable to diametrically opposite sides of the gears to interpose a substantially continuous resistance to axial rotation or the gears.

4. A transmsison comprising driving andflriven elements, a planet carrier positively connected with one of said elements and provided with planetary gears meshing with a gear carried by `the otheaelement, and Vweights having pivotal connections at the axes of said planetary gears and at right angles to said axes.

5. A transmission comprising driving and driven members,l a planet carrier having ositive connection with one of said memrs, planetary gears carried by said carrier and meshing wlth a gear connected to the other 4oil* said members,'and weights operatively connected with said planetary gears and having pivotal mountings at right angles to the axes of said gears.

` 6. A transmission comprising driving and driven members, a planet carrier having positive connection with one of said members, planetarygears carried by said carrier and meshing wlth a gear connected to the other of said members, weightsoperatively connected with said planetary gears and having pivotal mountings at right angles to the axes of said gears, and means tending to delect the weights, on their pivotal mountin s.

.ln testimony whereof he aliixes his signature.` z GEORGE B. COLEMAN. 

